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VACCINATED SPREAD COVID-19
By Steven Li Vision Times
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ccording to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released on July 30, after several large public events in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 469 cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were diagnosed among residents who had traveled to the town between July 3 and July 17. 74 percent of the cases were in fully immunized people, with the Delta variant identified in 90 percent of the specimens tested. Public gatherings included packed indoor and outdoor events at bars, restaurants, guest houses, and rental houses. The reported 14-day average COVID-19 incidence spiked from 0 cases per 100,000 persons per day on July 3 to 177 cases per 100,000 persons per day on July 17. In total, “274 (79%) vaccinated patients with breakthrough infection were symptomatic,” and 80% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, or four out of five, were fully vaccinated. 50%, or two out of four vaccinated patients, had underlying medical conditions. The one unvaccinated patient had “multiple underlying medical conditions.” There were no deaths reported. Most of the cases occurred in males (85 percent), with a median age of 40 years. “Vaccine products received by persons experiencing breakthrough infections were Pfizer-BioNTech (159; 46%), Moderna (131; 38%), and Janssen (56; 16%).” The most common reported symptoms included coughs, headaches, sore throats, myalgias, and fevers. The CDC concluded that “The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant is highly transmissible,” and that “Jurisdictions might consider expanded prevention strategies, including universal masking in indoor public
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High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated
settings, particularly for large public gatherings that include travelers from many areas with differing levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.”
Transmission and vaccine efficacy
The findings came on the heels of a July 27 CDC recommendation that “all persons, including those who are fully vaccinated, should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial.” “High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated on July 30, according to a report by The New York Times.
The viral loads indicate that “even fully immunized people can spread the virus as easily as unvaccinated people who become infected,” the article states. In an email to the media outlet, Walensky confirmed, “We believe at individual level they might, which is why we updated our recommendation.” The new findings challenge previously reported CDC data that 97 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were unvaccinated. CNBC reported in July that the “Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine is just 39% effective in Israel where the delta variant is the dominant strain, according to a new report from the country’s Health Ministry,” although the vaccines demonstrated “88% effectiveness against hospitalization and 91% effective(Image: KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio stopped short of ordering a mask mandate in the city on Monday but issued a strong recommendation for all New Yorkers to wear facemasks in public indoor settings.
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ness against severe illness.” Similar effectiveness has been seen with ivermectin. In a recently published systematic review and metaanalysis in The American Journal of Therapeutics analyzing 15 trials with 2438 participants, “ivermectin reduced the risk of death by an average of 62% (95% CI 27%–81%) compared with no ivermectin treatment.” Furthermore, in studies of ivermectin prophylaxis, or medication taken for prevention, “among health care workers and COVID-19 contacts probably reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection by an average of 86%.” In the UK, one of the most vaccinated countries in the world against COVID-19, Public Health England (PHE) released a report in June highlighting the fact that there were higher death and hospitalization rates among vaccinated compared to unvaccinated persons. In an interview on the CBS News “Face the Nation” broadcast published on Aug. 1, Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director and chief medical advisor to the president, stated, “when you look at the level of virus in the nasopharynx of people who are vaccinated, who get breakthrough infections, it’s really quite high and equivalent to the level of virus in the nasopharynx of unvaccinated people who get infected.” Continued on A3
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CUOMO SEX HARASSMENT SCANDAL EXPOSES CULTURE OF INTIMIDATION By Neil Campbell Vision Times
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n Aug. 3, New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a 168-page report arising from an investigation into allegations Governor Andrew Cuomo committed professional and personal misconduct with 11 women who came forward earlier in the year to accuse Cuomo of groping, inappropriate comments, and using his position to intimidate. The report was conclusive: not only did Cuomo commit sexual harassment under the standards of NY State law, but his Executive Chamber protected the Governor by failing to investigate or report allegations as they emerged. Investigators also found the office culture manufactured by the Governor and his inner circle is what created the conditions necessary for harassment to both exist and persist. The report says the investigators “interviewed dozens of individuals, who were comprised of complainants, current and former members of the Executive Chamber, State Troopers, other State employees, and others who interacted regularly with the Governor,” while examining “thousands of documents, including emails, texts, and pictures.” The AG’s team also took sworn testimony from “the complainants, as well as the Governor, his senior staff and other key advisers, and other potentially relevant witnesses.” In the end, the report held that Cuomo “engaged in conduct and conversations that were offensive and sexual in nature that constituted sex-based harassment,” but pointedly found the Governor engaged in “offensive touching” with three women:
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• Executive Assistant #1 – Refers to an executive assistant under Cuomo’s direct employ. In what appears to be a systemic case of lewd conduct, Cuomo referred to the woman and another assistant in the office as “mingle mammas.” For specific infractions, in November of 2020, Cuomo hugged the woman and “then reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast,” while at various dates in 2019 and 2020 Cuomo continued to encourage the staffer to hug him, where he “on occasion, grabbed her butt,” on New Year’s Eve 2019, Cuomo took a “selfie” with the assistant, during which “he put his hand on and then rubbed and grabbed her butt.” • Trooper #1 – Refers to a New York State Trooper who was assigned to Cuomo’s Protective Services Unit (PSU), a unit within the NY State Police assigned to guard the Governor. Investigators held that Cuomo “On one occasion…ran his finger down the center of Trooper #1’s back from the top of her neck down the center of her spine, while saying, ‘hey you’,” while at a 2019 event, Cuomo “touched Trooper #1 on the stomach, running his hand across it from her belly button to her right hip while she was holding a door open for him.” • State Entity Employee #1 – Refers to an employee of a “state-affiliated entity” not directly under Cuomo’s employ. At a 2019 event where Cuomo spoke and then gave photo opportunities to several attendees, “the Governor grabbed the butt of an employee of a State entity while having his picture taken with the employee.”
‘If I told anyone, nothing was going to happen to him.’
As for victim impact, Executive Assistant #1 told the investigators she felt both helpless and intimidated, “[A]ny time he touched me I felt like it was inappropriate. He was my boss, let alone the Governor of the State of New York, so I
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President Joe Biden also told reporters Cuomo should resign after the report was released, but noted he had not yet spoken to the Governor himself or read AG James’s investigation.
( David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
New York Attorney General Letitia James presents the findings of an independent investigation into accusations by multiple women that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed them on August 3, 2021 in New York City.
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definitely felt he abused his power and definitely knew that he had this presence about him, very intimidating, no one ever told him that he was wrong nor were you told to do so.” Trooper #1 similarly told the panel she felt she was left high and dry by her department because even they were too afraid of Cuomo’s power, “I feel like they [PSU leadership] don’t even want to ask because nobody wants to be in the line of fire of the Governor.” The report continues with a blistering indictment of Cuomo’s Chamber, describing it as a culture manufactured to be “rife with fear and intimidation and accompanied by a consistent overlooking of inappropriate flirtations and other sexually suggestive and gender-based comments by the Governor.” The AG’s office found the Chamber “failed to follow its own policies and procedures related to sexual harassment in responding to several of the complaints” and created an “overall culture that allowed the Governor’s harassing behavior to occur and enabled it to continue.” They note the Chamber had “robust” written policies against sexual harassment consistent with NY State law, yet failed to follow them in practice. In an example, they note that in 2018, Cuomo signed Executive Order 187, which required all investigations into complaints in any office over which the Governor has authority to be conducted by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER). GOER has an established process to retain an external law firm to conduct investigations, complete with a full discovery process. Investigators found to the contrary, “The policies were not followed with respect to the allegations of misconduct against the Governor until after our investigation began and public scrutiny was focused on allegations of sexual harassment against the Governor.”
Party-wide condemnation
The revelations have left Cuomo without support both inside the Democrat ranks and out. Albany County District Attorney Soares told NBC his office had opened an independent investigation and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN Cuomo should “be impeached as quickly as possible.” New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a fellow Democrat, also called for Cuomo to immediately tender his resignation in comments to CNN, adding she was prepared to force the issue if he did not, “Well, I would certainly support the Assembly moving forward on impeachment. It does not happen — it’s very much like the Congress. The Senate — so, the Senate would act on the impeachment. But certainly, I think the Assembly will take a look at the facts, and hopefully, if that’s the way to do it, then move forward with that” Cuomo released an almost13-minute video response, where he defiantly refused to resign, asking New Yorkers to read his side of the story released in an internal investigation earlier this year, “Please take the time to read the facts and decide for yourself… I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.” President Joe Biden also told reporters Cuomo should resign after the report was released, but noted he had not yet spoken to the Governor himself or read AG James’s investigation. Biden’s comments come after a March interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos where the President said if the investigation found Cuomo committed sexual harassment, Cuomo should resign.
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AUG 6 - AUG 12, 2021 |
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Vaccinated Spread COVID-19 as Easily as Unvaccinated:
CDC and Fauci Report
By Arvind Datta Vision Times
Continued from FRONT
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ew York City is set to become the first city in the United States to require customers who visit indoor gyms, restaurants, and performances to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Democrat, announced these measures at a news briefing, calling it the “Key to NYC Pass.” The mandate will be enforced beginning September 13 after a public service announcement campaign. De Blasio warned that people who are not vaccinated would not be allowed entry at these venues. “It’s time for people to see vaccination as necessary to living a good and full and healthy life… It will require vaccination for workers and customers in indoor dining, in indoor fitness facilities, indoor entertainment facilities… The only way to patronize these businesses indoors is if you’re vaccinated… If you want to participate in society fully, you’ve got to get vaccinated,” the mayor said at the briefing. To get entry into venues, individuals have to either show their Excelsior pass or the vaccine card provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Excelsior pass was rolled out by the New York government this year. It is a smartphone app that provides a “free, fast, and secure way” to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results. De Blasio also hinted that additional measures against unvaccinated people might be introduced soon. “We’ve got to shake people at this point and say, ‘Come on now.’ We tried voluntary. We could not have been more kind and compassionate. Free testing, everywhere you turn, incentives, friendly, warm embrace. The voluntary phase is over,” he said during an interview with MSNBC last week. The New York City mayor’s vaccination mandate comes on the back of New
New York City Mayor Mandates Vaccination Proof at Public Venues,
but Breakthrough Cases Continue York Governor Democrat Andrew Cuomo asking private businesses to adopt a “vaccine-only admission” policy,” banning unvaccinated people from accessing services. Cuomo justified the move to be in their “best business interest.” “If I go to a restaurant and I’m sitting at a table, and the
table right next to me, I want to know that they’re vaccinated. I believe it’s in your business interest to run a vaccine-only establishment,” Cuomo said at a press conference. As an example, he cited Radio City Music Hall that opened months ago to only vaccinated individuals and “sold out all the shows.”
(Image: KENA BETANCUR/ Getty Images)
A sign asking patrons to wear a face mask is seen at the entrance of a restaurant in midtown on August 03, 2021 in New York.
According to the latest data from the New York City government, only 66 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated. While New York City is trying to force people to get vaccinated, several states have taken measures to protect citizens from such mandates. In May, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting the use of vaccine passports in Florida. In June, Texas Governor Republican Greg Abbott also signed a similar bill. “Texas is open 100%. Texans should have the freedom to go where they want without any limits, restrictions, or requirements,” Abbott said in a tweet. Larry Lynch, senior vice president of science and Industry at the National Restaurant Association, pointed out that de Blasio’s mandate would require “significant changes” in how restau-
rants in New York operate. “Checking vaccination status isn’t like ID-ing a customer before serving them a drink—staff receive training on how to do that. Now, without training, our staff members are expected to check the vaccine status of every customer wanting to eat inside the establishment,” Lynch said in a statement. Despite de Blasio’s ‘one size fits all’ approach, the vaccinations, although effective against COVID-19 in most cases, are not proving to be 100% effective against the Delta variant. A China CDC study based on studies from a large recent outbreak that was well traced in Guangzhou stated that “The B.1.617.2 has been labeled as Variant of Concern (VOC), Delta,” with the study suggesting that the transmission rate is 1000s of times higher due to the increased viral load of the variant.
“So we know now that vaccinated people who get breakthrough infections can spread the virus to other people,” Fauci continued. “But the mean, the– the sort of average or mean level of virus in the nasopharynx is really quite similar, almost identical on an average. So you would think, obviously, when you have biological variability, you’re going to have some people high, some people low, some people in the middle. But the median or mean is going to be right there, which is very similar to the unvaccinated individual, which is troublesome, which tells you the potential for transmission is there,” he said. (Images:Pixabay)
According to the U.S. CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, which reports adverse events after COVID-19 vaccines predominantly in the U.S., 518,769 reports have been received as of July 23, 2021. There have been 11,940 deaths, 40,991 hospitalizations, 4,110 cases of anaphylaxis, 3,714 cases of Bell’s Palsy, 4,799 heart attacks, 3,201 cases of myocarditis or pericardits, and 1,932 cases of thrombocytopenia or low platelets that can increase risk of bleeding reported. The mounting evidence of adverse events and reports of transmission and waning immunity after COVID19 vaccination have made many reconsider the risks and benefits of getting the jab. Alternative prophylactic drugs or treatments such as ivermectin are quickly gaining traction through ongoing medical research and clinical trials.
COVID-19 Vaccine rollout has sped up
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NEWS ANALYSIS By SinoInsider
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June 30, Chinese ride-hailing company n Didi Chuxing listed on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $4.4 billion. Despite being a hotly anticipated initial public offering, Didi went about the business with no fanfare—it issued no statement about going public and its top executives did not ring the opening bell at the NYSE. Over the next two days, FTSE Russell and S&P Dow Jones announced expedited entry for Didi’s shares into their respective global equity indexes. Foreign investors should have been tipped off that something was amiss with the Didi listing from the company’s low-key handling of affairs. On July 2, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced a cybersecurity review of the company. Within the span of a week, more than 25 Didi-operated apps were removed from app stores. Didi lost $11 billion by July 12 after hitting a peak on July 1. By the end of the month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company was weighing plans to go private and that
BEIJING’S
The reining in of the private education sector accelerated “a selloff that at its most extreme erased $1.5 trillion from Chinese stocks and dented the portfolios of some of the biggest names in global finance,” according to Bloomberg News. On July 26, Chinese regulators issued guidelines strengthening protection for food delivery workers. The move caused food delivery company Meituan to lose over $60 billion of its market value over two trading sessions. And on Aug. 3, stateowned mainland media Economic Information Daily published a commentary piece criticizing video games as “opium for the mind” and singled out Tencent’s popular “Honor of Kings” games. While the piece was later deleted, TEL : 212-730-6962
Buyer beware
CRACKDOWN
Highlights Political Risks in China
Within the span of a week, more than 25 Didi-operated apps were removed from app stores.
Private education, ‘opium for the mind’, and regime security
dominance from 1997 to 2012.
TECH
On July 2, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced a cybersecurity review of the company.
the CAC is “supportive of the privatization plan in principle.” Didi has publicly denied the reported plans. In the following weeks, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would broaden its crackdown on technology companies beyond Didi. On July 23, the Chinese authorities released guidelines to curb excessive homework for school children and off-campus tutoring, a move which saw the shares of Hong Kong and U.S.-listed Chinese online education companies decline sharply.
Ad ob eS toc
k
A4 | AUG 6 - AUG 12 , 2021
Beijing. Yet decades of bad domestic policies and escalating geopolitical pressures mean that Beijing would prefer to secure regime security over making a quick but risky buck.
‘Real’ and ‘fictitious’ economies On July 23, the Chinese authorities released guidelines to curb excessive homework for school children and off-campus tutoring,
a move which saw the shares of Hong Kong and U.S.-listed Chinese online education companies decline sharply.
Chinese tech shares plummeted as investors anticipated a coming crackdown of the video gaming industry. Tencent’s shares fell by more than 10 percent in Hong Kong before recovering, while Peers NetEase Inc. and Bilibili Inc. closed 7.8 percent and 3.4 percent lower respectively on the Hang Seng Index. The CCP’s effort to rein in the tech sector is baffling at first glance. With China’s sluggish pandemic recovery and a rapidly deteriorating economy, having Chinese tech companies reel in much-needed foreign capital should be welcome news for
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Most of the tech companies affected by the recent regulatory storm do more to prop up China’s fictitious economy than the real economy. While the capital that they bring in does add to growth, the fictitious economy generates growth that is unsustainable, unproductive, and ends up widening the wealth gap in China. In the case of financial platforms with questionable business models, huge amounts of capital are con-
On July 26, Chinese regulators issued guidelines strengthening protection for food delivery workers.
The move caused food delivery company Meituan to lose over $60 billion of its market value over two trading sessions. centrated in the hands of a small number of powerful companies and Party eliteaffiliated interest groups, an unhealthy outcome for
regime interests on the whole. The Xi Jinping leadership has long made known its preference for building up China’s real economy and ensuring solid development instead of seeking growth for growth’s sake through financialization and the fictitious economy. For the tech industry, that means securing capital and investments for semiconductors, artificial intelligence, 5G, and Big Data. Breakthroughs and dominance in the aforementioned areas will allow the PRC to bolster domestic productivity and innovation, circumvent geopolitical competition-related supply chain “blockades,” and challenge U.S. hegemony. On the flipside, ride-hailing apps (safety problems, low-skill economy, etc.) and video games (addiction, lower productivity, etc.) do more to hinder than help the PRC with its goals. Beijing’s move against the online education sector and coming crackdown on the video game industry are almost certainly aimed at restoring work productivity and raising birth rates in the regime. The CCP’s latest census indicates that China will face a serious demographic crisis sooner rather than later, one which will in turn threaten a sharp slowing of economic growth and regime security. Efforts to curb the education industry are also meant to shore up the regime’s discourse and ideological control amid intensifying “great power competition” with the United States and the West more broadly. Then there is the issue of data security. Beijing fears that Chinese tech companies could be made to hand over sensitive data to foreign powers in complying with
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overseas listing audits and disclosures. For instance, Didi Chuxing almost certainly possesses travel data of government workers that could expose the CCP’s operations and secrets, endangering the regime. The swift regulatory crackdown against Didi and rumors of delisting make sense considering that Beijing wants to completely eliminate the risk of critical data falling into the wrong hands. Lastly, Xi Jinping is looking out for his own political security in hitting the tech companies. Xi’s factional rivals and global elites who oppose him, particularly the Jiang Zemin faction, have investments in Alibaba, Ant Group, Didi, and other tech ventures. Successful offshore listings of those
Political risks in China are substantial for businesses, investors, and governments as long as the CCP remains in charge. CCP propaganda and overseas influence operations may have successfully fooled the world into believing that the PRC is a “normal” country, but the regime has never truly deviated from its faith in the communist ideology and oppression. This is evident from gross human rights abuses like the mass labor camps in Xinjiang and the forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners. This is also clear from growing ideological indoctrination and control under the current leadership. As Xi Jinping is fond of saying, “Government, the military, society and schools, north, south, east and west–the Party leads everything.” The situation in China is further complicated by factional struggle in the CCP elite. As seen from the tech sector crackdown, political considerations are very much a factor in influencing Beijing’s decision to get tough on certain companies. Failure to account for shifting political winds in the regime has already cost foreign investors billions of dollars since 2012. The CCP’s tech sector crackdown, however, is waking up foreign investors to the dangers of political risk in China. Goldman Sachs clients have been asking if Chinese stocks are “uninvestable” following PRC regulatory action, according to a July 29 report in Bloomberg News. The Wall Street Journal reported on July 30 that investors “ranging from pension fund Orange County Employees Retirement System in California to money manager William Blair & Co. are rethinking their portfolios.” Mainstream financial commentators are also recognizing the root cause of the political risk. CNBC’s Jim Cramer described the CCP’s crackdown on online education as “Stalinist” and advised investors against
on Aug. 3, state-owned mainland media Economic Information Daily published a commentary piece criticizing video
games as “opium for the mind” and singled out Tencent’s popular “Honor of Kings” games. companies would enrich Xi’s rivals while adding to the problems mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, a “lose-lose” situation for the Chinese leader. Xi needs to keep his foes weak and the regime secure leading up to the crucial 20th Party Congress in 2022, where he is expected to make a bid for a normbreaking third office term. Hence, Xi has few reservations about getting tough on tech companies the way it did, especially if it means wrecking the wallets of his enemies. Xi would also be eyeing the opportunity to realign the loyalties of foreign investors who previously established “guanxi” with his rivals during the Jiang faction’s long era of
buying Chinese stocks. “I think we’re discovering that they’re communists, but they were communist all along,” he said. SinoInsider is a China political risk consultancy based in New York. The company has an unparalleled track record in forecasting CCP elite politics and its impact on China. Analyzes by SinoInsider experts have appeared in several publications, including Agence FrancePresse, Nikkei Asia, The Washington Times, The National Interest, The Diplomat, and Real Clear Defense.
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A5
How ‘Goddess of Weightlifting’
COMMENTARY By Nigella Hao Vision Times
Kuo Hsing-chun
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esting three Olympic records, Taiwan’s Kuo Hsing-chun fell short of topping a world record she set in 2019, but earned the Republic of China (ROC) its first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, July 27. Kuo, a member of Taiwan’s indigenous Amis tribe, participated in the 59-kilogram (130 lb) competition that afternoon, taking the gold with 103 kg in the snatch and 133 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 236 kg (about 520 lb). The victory added to Kuo’s previous golds at the World Games, Asian Games, World Championships, and Asian Championships, and brought Taiwan into the international spotlight at a time when tensions with mainland China are at an all-time high. Kuo’s road to sporting success has sparked interest and inspiration, particularly among Taiwanese social media users, who shared details of her life story and character.
Won Taiwan Its First Gold in the 2020 Olympics
From ‘lucky survival’ to ‘Goddess of Weightlifting’
Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳) was born underweight, with umbilical cord encirclement and fetal malposition. It took her mother more than 10 hours to give birth to her. Her name, Hsing-chun, is a close homophone for a word that means “lucky survival.” Hsing-chun’s father abandoned the family after she was born, while her mother worked in another city for a long time. So Hsing-chun was brought up by her grandmother. The family’s economic circumstances were very difficult. They could not afford to pay the mortgage, so had to move out of their home and stay at a relative’s place. They couldn’t even afford breakfast. But these experiences and pressures made Hsing-chun develop strong logic and foresight. At first, she practiced track and field, and cried in the bathroom when she dropped the baton in a relay race. The next day, she was asked by the weightlifting coach to participate in the weightlifting competition. Despite having no experience in weightlifting, Hsing-chun won first place. She had found her new focus. In order to support her family, Hsing-chun dedicated herself to the sport. By high school, she managed to receive athletic scholarships and prizes, which was enough to cover her own tuition fee and bring her family an income. An injury she sustained while training for the 2014 Asian Games did not deter her. Seventy percent of her right thigh muscle was damaged when a weight fell on her leg. However, with the help of her coach, doctors and team, she recovered from the mishap.
Taiwan’s Kuo Hsing-chun competes in the women’s 59kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Image: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)
‘Life is not just about winning races, it’s about helping others to win together’
Life is not just about winning races, it’s about helping others to win together
Winning the medal earned Kuo 23,000,000 Taiwan dollars, or nearly US$850,000. Aside from using part of it to help her family, she told the media that she would dedicate the funds to charity groups. Taiwanese netizens found the statement in line with Kuo’s motto: “life is not just about winning races, it’s about helping others to win together.” Chinese-speaking netizens in both Taiwan and the mainland
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CHRIS GRAYTHEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
have also commented on the contrast between Kuo and the typical female athletes produced by the Chinese Communist Party’s
effort to dominate sports. Despite her strength, Kuo maintains her femininity, something often lost among mainland Chinese female athletes. These athletes are typically given steroids and hormones from a young age, making them artificially strong enough to win medals and yet pass drug screening. However, this comes at a cost, making them look and even act androgynous in comparison to their counterparts from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Some of them even become infertile.
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Wall Street Behemoths Ate Reddit’s Gamestop Lunch
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ccording to Wall Street behemoth JPMorgan, the fairytale spun by pundits about Reddit’s WallStreetBets organizing to “squeeze” badly positioned hedge fund short sellers of video game retailer Gamestop (NYSE: GME) in what has been affectionately dubbed the “Gamestop Rebellion” is simply false. Peng Cheng, the JPMorgan quantitative and derivatives strategy analyst, wrote to clients in a note: “Although retail buying was portrayed as the main driver of the extreme price rally experienced by some stocks, the actual picture may be much more nuanced,” according to CNBC.
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on January 23, 2020. BlackRock By Leo Timm is Gamestop’s largest owner at “According to the report, ago, a loudspeaker blared out rity police], or placed under more than 9.2 million shares. the project successfully rec- his name and address and surveillance, at any time… (Image: by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images) ognized 1,158 photos of ordered him to extinguish Overall, it feelselly as if we’re not Craft , U.S. various local ‘key targets.’ the blaze immediately. He free at all.” dor to he Chinese Commu(STEPHAN the Unite amba ssaIE KEITH / GETTY d Natio According to data pronist Party (CCP) conThe system identified more jumped with fright, quickly The articlewill also not describes IMAGES) ns, wan, the trave l vided tinues to roll out its than 60 targets for its local put out the flames and scur- the troubling implications to Tai- to CNBC by JPMortratio n. anno uncedDepa rtme nt In three ges of gan’s quants team based on “Sharp Eyes Project” facial of previ a perpetually ‘Domestic Security’ and ried away.” Gettyima ton has years Jan. moni12 follow State autho rized , Wash inggy.10The ous credit” anno uncem recognition technology in an more than people accused “Everyone knew who the tored system: higher-level data and propriing a lion in and technolo over $15 she“social defen se would has ent sayin one ence even bilthan spend attempt to cement its increasculprit was, so he would etary of crimes. China’s Domestic “Under a pilot social credit unde r sales to regime more ist g analysis methodologies iting the three on how Trum p, commun Taiwa n to withoffices make never dare to do that again,” scheme, people self-r $1 that of vis-available to the public, ingly tenuous griprates on powerUyghurs, Chinese Security whouled are con-daysnot manifesBureau Communist Obam a’s billio n more island a published in million Made term. that China claim over the world’s largest andwho are predomiup a secret police force tasked boasted Communist Party sidered be ‘troublemakers’ while the top 10 most purentir e of its to name… 8-yea r territ catchy a citizens ory. includings is part wants to individu- Secretary Yin Xiuqin smugly. by the Cui Liru, jailed in chased stocks by retail-level oldest country. with neutralizing authorities, China Secre statement Muslim, are tary of China 2025.” nately the Taihe a senio r resea ology State explawho A March 2020 In mid-January, Daji- banned from worals biotechn that the Communist Party According to the article: those tried fare- investors included names like p Mike rcher at e the ined have Instit ute, townshi Pomp and n dominat that ties camps eo believ with Taiwa developwas due smokedthe yuan, the Chinese-lan- or speaking in their deems in to be political threats,” “Fear of public shaming is dodging, on cance public Apple, Tesla, Coca-Cola, and from Guanwe By Steven Li as a leader to work llatio n n will soften es that southwestern the incom shipping on sector be done caused that neede and preciguage edition of The Epoch said Dajiyuan. the essence of Sharp Eyes.” transport, on AMC, Gamestop “was numofficials in the to turn trouble , found by language. 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Accordi hours obvious: ment ” with of warm er been ary of Statewere s and refine Taiwa n, as the ultimate in a whole- China that uses “enga geemis- at Craft attend with an increas Xinhua, sed her desire family Mike Pomp until efforts. organ month.”officially struction and networking” in member software.” DNA itarianism “The CCP to degenerate into technoc- Repub naturally trading doubledaon “The Trum Beijin g. r ch to theGamestop has expres to ensure kind of feels: inflati propagan ion United Nation in eo (R) and Sum- veillance map,isaalready than Project is a approa The revin a manne lic of Chinawhoknow congress p admin n as facial Leaders’ Liuhe District, Nanjing city,recognit monitoring fail to paythe whileNew the York mirage U.S. Amba ng the us in racy under the excuse ofU.N. “Employers [Taiw an City. and hype are met. s (UN) Gener for this work with ent has ure The Sharp Eyes program our available tools achieve our 15th G20 e Cho to containi (ROC), the goals ssador to Presid ent] istrat ion and uted2020, seat to the sion e will occur By Debbi al Assem helixed chart lost its around Reddit, a social mared to er 21, will spare Jiangsu Province. The The docu-U.S. governm our homes, whatfrom privacy do combatting the SARS-CoV-2landsocial insurance or people be distrib the U.N. surveilla nce communist no increas Tsai Ing-w bly on Septem on Novemb ranging actions by to that is design remo val securit y, mit would Kelly in enue the local increas for traits of es Vision Times en main- keting national US-Ta iwan no effort s to ges neighbors ber 24, 2019, ments show how the Nanjing have left?suscepIt’s like we’ve novel coronavirus pandemic.switcwho1971, haveand failed to pay fines platform rather than a of proto criticized these Jinping group. Xioffset suppor ts oldst to ent as code we prom ote that encoura US-R OC economic, to our By Neil hed diplo the United States col gover goals. U.S. Presiden househ n, Yellen relati ons color costs. hand s Chinese governm y. nist Party Campbell our eye all wage other for suspi- and foreign policy technoIf our In additio got ropes around will also bematic on the restricted social government installed the facial “The internet and our media diplo platform, served ning . energy until to each um Commu over Beijin diseases matic of and recog higher Trum its humanit repor ted plans certain l minim powe r. to report p later pose is The inChinese former chair especial ly in efforts to maintain tibility to list,”gsays the article. nition asing a screen.to“Isend think that relati it’s ons recognition in 2017 to monnecks andDNA are being a federa Their “We need a crime against by sam-led on smartphones have beenCraft edge, to anet Yellen, , who was in the decad Board $15 per hour. that Wash Kelly Craft Chinese com(CCP) said, onsize policies cious activity, The U.S.- Reute rs on Jan. innovation tions to raise US-Ta iwan purthe preshave 10,000 e. l Reserve Taiwa n The article increase to l Budget Office itor citizens. all living under under government surveilboasted that the reasonable thatn insti- , sayrelati Additionally, ingto 12. ing with to say ence a ROC logical and areas where ve 'dualharmon the Federa China relato share you leashes.s We’re betwe en slated to visit goes back could possibly was further has essiona admi nistraheight that the Obama, has fire.” had experi could s the to World relati onsh ip estab- rural police and security including in sensiti 15, woul Jan. 13 enterprise in Xinjia Dajiyuan said the doca microscope, and it’s Chinese state-run tutional investors were also“play focus in terri- lance for a long time already,” muni panies are obligated and are ples, scientist ds and Bidenng” Yellen under Barackto become the Congr s this, “move s central and Amer ican Trum d have st Chine On Jan. 11, Com-standar p admi ence of Warn-II, Altho ugh tion canno t “the CCP and logies, must low. where he the genetic markerssay, high- rank istration’s million facilibelieve ated se stocks last g with China’to revernatur when auments used a Party-jaran anonymous Chinese interthat createdbeen Sharp Eyes,Jan. the spoke very active in those force isolate fying.” use' techno critica l supply data with the is relatively called se… e again st ds of 3.7 s aided final spers on foreig n minis been nomin Secretary servd with, ing U.S. the third s workin ‘fast tracks’ US-Ta iwanBiden will not same privacy the 2015 devalu hours Chin lish during of the the renounce after aptly-named cost upwar woun ry Agent, FBI in Yellen’ Zhaoare insti- try of per- camerasactivists worry that on reshoring week because there 2018 articleyou by Los NewalVision that offici hand the DNAAassociate a relati ons Comm not given the bank the haveAnge- net user told RFA. “A friend U.S. downese Amer ory Specialgon heavy rhetorical basis job,” but their belief Secre tary Bell U.S. autd Japan le Party Chinese unist global mar-d new Treasu administration. orderly if has, his edflow — ica would Lijian said 19, the Rights But Hum anCo., tate that surpris the world Jan. ion. workers a increase will fuel as in the United You, Supervis had horit ieson invas cancer. of Healt admi nistra like ist-Le ” a ”Marx Trum about initiating “the three Times illustrated a real- of mine in Anhui is under was happy to report tutional investors that will give Chi- chains.” Edwardpolicy breastles e yuan beparticent TrumPresid Servi has propose protections ninist confronts s before te respo “met p ing the Biden a fiscal dove and h andthe resolu wished unde r new able to your stan this China p admin ces Alex in China China ating tion genetic science the Chines onU.S. Unde admin nses.” sonnel. tice?” the be this injuswon’t be regime that exertstake signi tionpower defenses” and sought to surworldsamples, anecdote ofthe living surveillance, and he tried to r Secre Partytary could linkAzar up its ipate -back in names that have ele-with asked her opinio steps to istratiistrat y by stimul kets whenmechan 10 million ismthe the ies unrestricted Tough ion have t he States. The situation Known to on luck to rever rk of the Trump andsur- State ficant actioover against finding Krach the long-s economist, ed medi nese authorit collectof State with the econom the workers bencompan ies Amerboost and taken a global se In was devalued chances under theof Party’s omniscibuy a plane ticket to go over- —veillance vated volume. 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It clinical had not the island cy results administra-test the commu much tion luck collected has arms admi se Comm pursue tion to the CIA curren It after the hasput countrie will lift tens pov- acid ringtransportation tal zones, province China set a under restriction or perseresulting in 24/7 ity last week as well,” he said. to get so of argue the South be resolv ed,”berg Trials ployment regulation to aid vis-monNuremology com- to under sales and asked incre African exportsaccepted 40 years But what was a miracle.” give informa On Jan. eras, in to theunist mum wage ology Cui told at the end and transfer gover nmen d that the nistra- (CCP) out of mul- wants by a biotechn boostionally and otherTrump Party ased China Morn War in ed the on to pullans U.S. great used ROC, internat biotechn “pray 9, . blast order of abroad. s privately the Officials value Chine expand government . eering, hubs, hospitals, squares, cuted by them, or asked to match to a small pile of garitoring whether you’re at According to data from of er global U.S.-Taiwan more for its succes Americans for its persecpushe d for top U.S. t needs Taiwa and have other The also annou emphasizedthe 45th President se tion Bioengin ing II that broug World lions of Americ oppo se Weinhope officials economy. ing access genetic resource 60 Minutes on demand cy. g indusdollar rose suspidiplomat toretail CCPwar inof Uyghur nese America trade s in keepin pany, Anke u- ipatio resolu milita ry ler’s Post. 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She transimatic contract has gatheredn moves n comother reacti million unificati stage. off ation Sam Brown e the Activists back (L) se to the SARSoil. In globalrespon In --Yellen to install 719,932 police issued Europ eshares than Europ ean world’s Taiw an e direc e state ity. producers torate He noted a Jan. in Amer sacred idea that Berkele of this an investig administratio Picture of Hikvision cameras during a l gas, and In of Chinese after top jiang and thepost, in Xincombined. Given , ons from tirade s and the quesgo so far as closed compa nies ge America on an 19 testing. 7 Twitt offici als This ment and U.C. will clear, of ica, ittee’s that natura s results above tech Comm ty gover ngs “pros acquirin role as a proat colpress the trip. te coal, the to officials to to rising the the purchased. was likely a report celebrating their cameras in Shanghe. her atroci undis Comm possibili nits ofFinance gover Pomp declin ed Brooki meet with trials answers State Depar event Chine formitted again off Chinessuch ties comas Comple made its intention to be in an electronic mall inTBei- unist Party products, rus pangov- as jing, which This infur iated ecuted eo descr er Although the China’s efforts tioned from evidence at crime t with the we emba citizens. In short, the to the peopl nment ting with into“achievements” 29, 2018, him, (CCP). wasseadded to Flickr crime again perpetrators tment May he C CP Hikvision panies, to U.S. Instifle n from has The novel coronavi ibed stren gthen st Uygh in implethe result of popular tradinging serving within nt a podcas Dollars and Sense, CoV-2 as ing plant DNA guiding Shares for make rked on a missio in ns’ DNA. urs nothkind. Stude vowed to respo sBeiframe and from access U.S. must continuegenetic jing on May 24, 2019.the e. Our tion on compe DNA collectio address would Sepshort of U.S.in it2013. ing of the st huma fessor to notinclud Preside prote s Americathe te, light, our (Alex Wong Washington, ies, that ROC allian for “crim n, Bill the he does State Depa Genomi the ng.cs America t lect menting nity, the comn to described demic, te dblacklist by the so-called Sharp direct a Pentagon apps like Robinhood restrictscenes to unfairly ts. first as the Bank of Institu man count samend countr crime D.C. in two top Chinese surveiluncertai in protect our north nt, ology claimi huma is to bankrup the Yellen such / es eign a unwavering Getty Image great again againsce and swabs ernme biotechn star, vigilant nity” andthe Trum rtme all Amer 2020, trips ered that s being perpetrated e dissiden t unde r largest in l Reserve tion. in Feb. 2019, a $40 tax per ton privacy concerns tember ign convic Eyes Project (雪亮 “Xue nasal , the director of the Trumpnt’s Administration for ing buying of select “meme“This for s) group, icans. “genocide.” citizens. While lance firms plunged on May been that BGI neces sary are norm al, Xinjia p admi ad prosecut k reports that addi- innova ng.” to Chinaof the Federa and eventually The presid sold campa data of its in the world, is a “This week ” niswe are here tion has and of a widespre the 2020 implementing co GNC being owned and/or con- stocks” like Gamestop after Liang,” translatingreportliterally Evanina Counterintelligence Newswee of analyzing 22 following reports WashSince was ent again ceu- pany and Taiwa to ensur e that On aaresimil the noble ramifications tragic set very serious and has sharpdemned San Francis becoming the BidenPharma in China and a new admin we inaugurate ar note, certain benefits the U.S. of the CCP may trail, everyday to serve con, Harbin . Indeed, a New lm- ington is considering banning of to the riots basedTeam China to “Bright as Snow”), a sur- National trolled by the PLA. A series being hit with a $3 billion aggre ssion n are ready toAmbassador tional goals U.S. America. $770 is based citizens taking place actions that are DNA database Center (NSC), to multiple ic onfor leading up Federa l Reserve in the Capito data are overwhe the at Large extend our istration and count rhetorCo te the biotech ened of Our allegia sent letters by main nation Group them from buying U.S. comarticle revealed conthe there in edly for Interwe Sessio l during the Jan. U.S. to the veillance program designed and Security BGI was likely genetic of Executive Orders by the deposit requirement from tical its it will , such as be to “domina land ChinaalerReligi ern part best wishe nce is not Chair of York Times the Westto “provide Chinesethat 23 specia that we 6 Joint ny@visiontim ous Freed ining ingly positive offeringrural n of Cong of just as the blacklistamassing genetic to 2017. At least of ponents, Sam in has been workmainta to persecute outgoing President blocked the Deposit Trust & Clearing million. rations, or l interests, corpo om, luck,also want them s. And that the regioBrow industry” by position forced labor, China… This provide warned ng to establish partfrom 2014 what the Trump es.com that the CCP e,” civilians. ies are states l development “biologi“all Amer ress, saying l expertis much global entitie leaving the Yellen n. nback, challenged map of its to have the CCP edofcompan Yellen a very this is forced is es potentia cures and treat- ing of telecoms giant Huawei technica - attempti The Party justifiessequenc U.S. based companies from Corporation to cover clearassociat After her icans were our childr ilization, data and to develop to target tinue n started.genetic for rified s. It’s to ing on a genetic ng put the pro- nerships with U.S. compani reserve, sterTrump said. important word, fanned their escalating tech isperform en, forced horpersecution its 21-year-long 700 million d toBiden designed administratio . life-savi Admincit“high gramthrough under theaddition pretext al of doing business with or hold- inghouse volatility. ng truth ” Capito by the assault to our nation our citizens, and at the federal uished Fellow kind of things abortions. The approximately collecting cal weapons groups.” Chi- accredite of the spirit States war. (Image: FRED DUFOUR / AFP via the underlyi later be exploited on our Trump’s Disting l.” practice to make stated, “The and “make on United that we haven ethnic fighting crime more effec- that could ing securities in PLA-conbecame a Agent ments, private genetic data isGetty Images) testing ual on Brookings seen in approval “We restor itself,” he said. Falun to ers,” be willing males by forcibly “Polit g in certain to help with an nce at the sory Special claim that ’t leaving seek access as the forced Gong, as well tration will is that of tools to and in Reside continue on A3 tively. ns” nected companies. speaking donatio that a nation ed the principle office was rating attack ical violence in this worldawfully long time izens, samples beginnin cre- nese state media ies to profit 2019 Supervi You, a FBI investifull array the blood organ compan working Our cent of largest Disease and earned is for by on te use 51 pering of its an citizen according exists to has the everything Street data Edward ting in the Institu in a way Coronav irus accountable. ies an interv ,” said Pompeo genetic serve its adherents. harvest- Repo ish as Amer rs. In the case China already to major Wall we chers. Our 2014, culmina background testing. BGI in focused hold China iew with back wrote gy compan in the world database rts, althou Rasmussen off of consume Brownfees from gator with a genealo about right agenda was not (COVID -19) America to date has ch — Fox News with be tolera icans. It can never government, : “What gh all other stated, “The in collectation of a national ies have genetic database polls show Furtherapproach23andM Repor profiles. Chinese e. istry, numb ted. or the approa involved does banks. 212-730-6963 of left, million ny@visiontimes.com ts. ral Now er 6,600 as about Repub Authorit it wasn’ VISION Pompeo such ever we must more than of artificialTIMES with over 80 has has been data from ethnic biochemarian government of in late 2017. mean? 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VISIO ties.” ssional tion but will possibiliBiden to Board Congre voice the expire. ed to this heard Chair of have their time as right is former when they tax increases to While Trum over the Janet Yellen, governmen , and to To Yellen's no than audience. p will join tury. It is stain of the cenDonald t listen.” pledged small club om from the Trump truly making less a the ny@visiontimes.c recognized households year and Yellen The Secre that.” external only serveof presidents who TIMES per tary of d one try const threats the counVISION released $400,000 lauded State antly faces, a strongly his “Ame term, he the Press but s rica pri wo mo
By Neil Campbell
Nomin ry Secretary US TreasuL J
TEL : 212-730-6962
The Biden n Administratio to ng will be willi the make use of tools full array of a Chin to hold accountable. to Our approach sed date has focu on a unilateral and, approach — d as a result, coul e mor been have effective.
nt of an governme ng The authoritari leader Xi Jinpi China and its t their y open abou and have been boldl beat the west in ambitions to of advances fits bene . The reap the and technology a DNA science has regime even communist catchy festo with a published mani in China 2025. name... Made
When a resident of Anxi village in the Sichuan province of China set a match to a small pile of garbage in the gutter two years ago, a loudspeaker blared out his name and address and ordered him to extinguish the blaze immediately. He jumped with fright, quickly put out the flames and scurried away.
E-mail : subscription@visiontimes.com
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Four year s ago we launche d great nati a ona effort to rebu l our country ild renew its , to spir and to rest it, ore the allegiance of governmen this t citizens. In to its sho we embarke rt, on a mission d make Am to erica great aga in for Americans all .
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WORLD
A6 | AUG 6 - AUG 12 , 2021
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A Communist Chinese Paramilitary Unit Deployed to Suppress 2019 Hong Kong Protests Trained Cuban ‘Black Berets’ By Neil Campbell Vision Times
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Cuban military unit tasked with suppressing the July 11 anticommunism protests has been receiving training from the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) People’s Armed Police (PAP), a paramilitary unit deployed to quash the historic 2019 anti-CCP protests in Hong Kong. In a 58-page report published in 2019 by Washington-based National Defense University (NDU) titled China’s Other Army: The People’s Armed Police in an Era of Reform found the PAP, a force composed of up to a million personnel, is strictly under the control of the CCP’s central command in Zhongnanhai and has incorporated the China Coast Guard. The report also notes many governments around the world are quietly utilizing the PAP, which has “emerged as a partner of
A protestor shouts slogans as people hold "Free Cuba" signs during a rally in calling for Freedom in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, in Miami, on July 31, 2021. (Image:CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
choice for foreign governments in areas such as counterterrorism and peacekeeping training, in addition to its longstanding role as contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions.” NDU also says the unit is deployed overseas to guard the Party’s Belt and Road Initiative hegemony projects, while domestically, it was deployed to crush dissent in Xinjiang and Tibet. Cuba incorporated what it learned into its training regimine. Photos published by Cuba-focused media outlet ADN revealed multiple pictures of Black Berets in full uniform posing with PAP officers in full uniform, including one where Black Berets are posing in martial arts gi with a uniformed Chinese officer with the blood red People’s Republic of China flag hoisted next to the Cuban flag. According to ADN and other reports, the Black Berets were deployed to silence Cuba’s July 11 protests, which saw thousands
The CCP’s People’s Armed Police anti-dissent paramilitary force, which was deployed to help crush Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-communism protests, has been training the Cuban Black Berets special forces since at least 2008. (Image:Yander Zamora/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
of citizens march in a call for the removal of the country’s 62-year-old regime. In March of 2019, Hong Kong Free Press reported city police had brought in the PAP to assist with quashing the enormous anti-CCP protests, which sometimes saw as many as two million citizens hitting the street to call for the elimination of communist rule after the Beijing-loyal city government
sought to install a notorious “extradition bill” that would have seen political dissenters exported to the mainland for persecution and torture in the CCP’s re-education and labor camps and prisons. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperman and propagandist Zhao Lijian made it clear the CCP stands with the Communist Party of Cuba in a
July 13 press conference while answering a softball question from Phoenix TV, “China firmly opposes foreign interference in Cuba’s internal affairs, firmly supports what Cuba has done in fighting COVID-19, improving people’s livelihood and upholding social stability, and firmly supports Cuba in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions.”
NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA/JPL-Caltech
This image of a Martian vista in Jezero Crater, made from smaller individual images, was taken by NASA’s Perseverance rover on July 3, 2021. NASA’s Perseverance t aken by one of the rover’s Navigation Cameras.
InSight and Perseverance Robots Reveal Interesting New Details By Jonathan Walker Vision Times
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nSight and Perseverance are two NASA robots that are presently exploring the Martian surface. InSight landed on the red planet on Nov. 26, 2018; it’s been active for 977 days as of July 30. Perseverance landed on Feb. 18, 2021; it’s been operational for 162 days. Recently, scientists announced new information about Mars from data collected by these robots. Three newly published papers authored by dozens of scientists from around the world describe how they used InSight’s seismometer to take a deeper look at Mars. A July 21 press conference revealed the research results from Perseverance.
InSight
From February 2019, the InSight lander has been recording seismic activity or “quakes” that occur TEL : 212-730-6962
on the planet. In a November 2018 National Geographic interview, Renee Weber, from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, said that one of the primary goals of the mission was to figure out the level of seismic activity on Mars. The mission also sought to measure the planet’s core and other layers beneath the surface. InSight’s seismometer picks up two kinds of waves during a Mars quake: P-waves and S-waves. Each wave moves through the Martian interiors in slightly different ways from each other. That movement depends on what kind of material they are moving through. Just like 1’s and 0’s can be utilized to create complex computer programming, these two waves can combine to generate a complex picture of the planet’s interior. By analyzing these waves, scientists can understand the internal composi-
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tion of Mars. Previously, scientists relied on satellites flying above the planet to measure gravitational differences and topography. Based on such data, the crust thickness of Mars was estimated to be a global average of 68 miles (110 km). However, one of the three recent papers that modeled the red planet’s crust found that the calculation was incorrect. “Now with our measurements from inside, we can say that that’s definitely too much,” Brigitte Knapmeyer-Endrun, lead author, told Wired. Brigitte and her group of researchers calculate the maximum average thickness of the crust to be 45 miles (72 km). The researchers believe that the crust might be composed of two or maybe three layers. The first layer is assumed to be 6.2 miles (10 km) thick; the second layer stretches to around 12.4 miles (20 km). Although the research team is not sure
NASA’s InSight landed on Mars.
about what lies beyond the second layer, KnapmeyerEndrun told the media outlet that “the crust is not as thick as it had been predicted previously, and it has a lower density.”
The researchers believe that the crust might be composed of two or maybe three layers.
Perseverance
The other robot on Mars, Perseverance, is equipped with a seven-foot arm that has several gadgets to conduct experiments on the
VISION TIMES
red planet. For example, the MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) unit is capable of converting small amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen. It has high-resolution cameras that take pictures of its surroundings and highly sensitive sensors that measure the climate. Perseverance’s AI-powered software has helped the robot move through the planet with relative ease. Human-controlled driving maneuvers the Perseverance around difficult terrain or obstacles at the rate of 100 feet per day. The AI software can also improve its agility. While the rover runs, the AI also creates a three-dimensional map of the surface so that the daily route is updated and optimized in real-time. Vivian Sun, the systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, spoke at the July 21 press conference. She said that it was
NASA-JPL-Caltech
What’s Inside Mars? a challenge to figure out “where we want to go and how we’re going to fit everything into our schedule.” Perseverance was taken on a detour of 3,000 feet south of the landing site on a mission to recover rock samples. The scientists plan to store samples on the planet’s surface and then retrieve them during some future return mission. Perseverance landed on the Jezero Crater, which is believed to have once been a lake. It has taken images of numerous rocks, some of them resembling hardened lake mud. It’s speculated that it may have signs of a former life. Following its current expedition south of the landing site, Perseverance is set to make its way northwest towards what is believed to be an old river delta that used to feed water into the Jezero Crater. The place might help scientists understand how water flowed in the region.
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Iranian Judo Athlete
AUG 6 - AUG 12, 2021 |
(Image: Amir Hosseini/Wikipedia)
Japanese Firms Partner Against Chinese Competition to Produce Home-built Electric Trucks By Arvind Datta Vision Times
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Dedicates Silver Medal to Israel after Defecting Iran and Fighting for Mongolia By Jonathan Walker Vision Times
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n July 27, Saeid Mollaei won the silver medal in the men’s 81 kg judo final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics representing Mongolia. Mollaei was seeking to win the gold medal in a tense final fight against Japan’s Takanori Nagase but eventually ended up losing the match. Lasting more than five and a half minutes, the extremely close contest was brought to a dramatic finish when Nagase executed an ashi-guruma foot wheel, which put Mollaei down on the tatami mats that earned a waza-ari sudden-death overtime victory for Nagase. Mollaei, originally from Iran, defected from the Islamist country and fled to Germany after disobeying instructions from a minister
to pull back from the Judo World Championships in 2019 to avoid facing Israel’s Sagi Muki. Iran has prohibited participation in sporting events against Israel since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. When Mollaei represented Iran in 2019, he had advanced to the semifinal round. Seeking to defend his championship following the win in 2018 in Azerbaijan, Mollaei was eventually directed by Iranian officials to lose the semifinal match against Belgian judo fighter Matthias Casse so as to avoid fighting in the final match against Israeli champion Sagi Muki. International Judo Federation (IJF) called the Iranian government’s interference “a serious breach and gross violation of the statutes of IJF, its legitimate interests, its principles, and objectives.” Iran was sus-
Iranian Judo athlete Saeid Mollaei winssilver in Tokyo for Mongolia two years after fleeing from his country.
pended from IJF events for four years. Mollaei subsequently fled Iran, forced to go into hiding as he “feared for his life at home.” He was given asylum in Germany in August 2019 and later received citizenship in Mongolia in December 2019. Sagi Muki and Mollaei eventually became friends and kept pushing each other over the span of two years in their preparation for the Olympics and other international events. Mollaei also participated in an international judo competition in Tel Aviv earlier in February this year where he thanked
the people of Israel for their support. Iranian officials however reacted negatively to Mollaei’s success. “This is not an honor but a stain of shame on your forehead that will stay with you forever, because you have turned your back on the ideals of the system, on your homeland, and are proud of it,” President of the Iranian Judo Federation Arash Miresmaeili said in a statement at that time. After winning the silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Mollaei thanked the Israelis. “Thank you to Israel for the good energy. This
medal is dedicated also to Israel. I hope the Israelis are happy with this win…Todah (Thank you in Hebrew),” he said to the Israeli Sports Channel. Sagi Muki stated he was ecstatic for his friend for his achievement even though he had a disappointing end to his Olympic campaign. “I’m super happy for Saeid. I know what he’s gone through, and how much he wanted it. He’s a very close friend of mine, and I’m so happy that he succeeded in achieving his dream. He deserves it – his journey is incredibly inspiring,” Muki said at a press conference.
Pakistan’s Unvaccinated Lose Cell Service, Right to Work By Neil Campbell Vision Times
by Pakistan Today. The government amended the lockdown a day later “allowing companies and industries with 100 percent vaccination of their workers to remain open,” according to Business Recorder.
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OVID-19 vaccination has been made mandatory in one of Pakistan’s four provinces. To enforce the mandate, the vaccine hesitant will have their SIM cards blocked, suspending their cellular service, and will no longer be permitted to access public markets, according to English language reports. Vaccination is no longer optional for the 18+ portion of Sindh Province’s 47.89 million citizens. Government officials have been directed to force all staff to accept an injection on penalty of their personal salaries being suspended, while the Provincial government has asked Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Center to suspend the SIM cards and social media accounts of individuals who do not roll up their sleeves by the Aug. 31 deadline. TEL : 212-730-6962
People gather in large numbers to accept a SARS-CoV-2 injection at a vaccination centre in Karachi on July 29, 2021. Citizens of Sindh Province who decline to roll up their sleeves face a loss of cell service and the right to work. (Image: ASIF HASSAN/ Getty Images)
In a July 31 article by Dawn, Adviser to Sindh’s Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab confirmed the move, lauding its efficacy on vaccine uptake, “In this regard, it was decided that mobile SIM cards of unvaccinated people will be blocked, and you can see vaccination stats after four days of the announcement — there’s an exponential increase in it.” According to a July 31 report by Business Recorder, after the deadline, unvaccinated citizens will no longer be able to “enter both public
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A7
and private sector offices, businesses, and high-risk sectors.” On July 30, the Sindh government implemented a lockdown scheduled to last until Aug. 8 that would see markets and public transit throughout the province closed. Restaurants can still deliver food, but delivery drivers have been forced to take the injections to maintain employment. Citizens who are outside their homes will have to present vaccination cards to law enforcement, according to a report
Mandatory Vaccines Prompt Counterfeit Certificates
In an Aug. 2 article by The Express Tribune, the government’s use of soft power to hit their vaccination target has had the side effect of creating an illicit market for counterfeit vaccine certification schemes showing up on the Pakistani internet. Participants in the scheme were located at “major government hospitals,” with prices for a doctored certificate anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 Rupees. The Tribune said law enforcement had “taken action” against at least four health department employees in Lahore and Shahdara. The Pakistani govern-
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ment’s move relies on the now-trending hysteria surrounding the Delta Variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) and the vaccines that are alleged to save the world from the pandemic. However, a July 30 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control tested Massachusetts residents who attended large scale public gatherings in Barnstable County over a two week period in July, finding 469 COVID-19 diagnoses from an undisclosed sample size. Notably, 90 percent of the cases were Delta Variant. Equally notable, 74 percent of the infections occurred in fully vaccinated individuals. The report also found the vast majority of these cases were not asymptomatic. 79 percent of the breakthrough cases were symptomatic and 80 percent of those hospitalized were fully vaccinated.
suzu and Hino, two prominent Japanese vehicle manufacturers, will be entering the zero-emission light truck market in 2022. Hino will be launching its Dutro Z EV truck in early summer while Isuzu will release the electric version of its popular Elf truck sometime next year. These electric trucks will have a capacity of two to four tons. In March, Hino, Isuzu, and Toyota announced a partnership in commercial vehicles through which the three companies will be collaborating on electric, connected, autonomous driving, and fuel-cell technologies. Hino is the truck division of Toyota. Together, these three companies account for almost 80 percent of the truck market in Japan. The new partnership firm will be 80 percent owned by Toyota, with Isuzu and Hino sharing the remaining 20 percent equally.
Japanese truck manufacturers have begun focusing on electric variants. (Image: Schwoaze / Pixabay)
Two other Japanese firms, Daihatsu Motor and Suzuki Motor have also joined the alliance led by Toyota aimed at boosting the EV market in Japan. The country’s manufacturers have been so far sluggish in building all-electric trucks for various reasons; one being high battery costs. A battery can make up to about 30 to 50 percent of the total cost of a vehicle. To make matters worse, trucks require multiple batteries given that they are built to travel long distances carrying heavy loads. Electric trucks from a Japanese manufacturer cost almost double that of conventional options, which makes sales difficult unless the government offers subsidies. It is in this matter of price that the Chinese trucks will prove to be a tough competitor. SG Holdings, the parent company of Japan’s logistics company Sagawa Express, has reportedly ordered 7,200 light trucks from a Chinese company that will deliver the vehicles at 1.3 million ($11,900) yen to 1.5 million yen ($13,735) apiece.
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NATURE
A8 | AUG 6 - AUG 12 , 2021
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The
No water, no problem So, how does this unusual animal survive without water?
Gerenuk
Gerenuks eat a lot of vegetation every day. Their huge appetite for fresh leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits gives them enough moisture to survive. Gerenuks have various ways to conserve moisture, as well: a sedentary lifestyle, highly concentrated urine, and unique nasal passages, which are adapted to prevent evaporative loss.
By Vision Times staff
Due to their ability to live without water, gerenuks can live in dry and arid lands, where a lack of proper water sources also means fewer predators and reduced competition with other herbivores that need to drink.
I
magine living without water, one of the most basic necessities of life. In the wild, many animals do have ways to cope with a lack of hydration, but even a camel cannot survive without needing to fill up now and then. There is one type of antelope in the arid lands of Africa, however, that has adapted to life without any water.
With only about
95,000 gerenuks in the wild, they are classified as
“Near-Threatened.” Danger from humans While the gerenuk has adapted to be a survivor of harsh conditions, it faces other threats. Aside from the usual African predators, habitat loss and fragmentation loom against them, as humans expand into their lands. With only about 95,000 gerenuks in the wild, they are classified as “Near-Threatened.” Conservationist groups are working to keep this from being elevated to “Endangered” status. One such group, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, rescued an orphaned gerenuk calf in 2013. The little antelope was named Nuk, and was cared for at the Trust’s Kaluku field headquarters. He lived and socialized with a herd of impalas, but when he started growing horns and got too close with the females, the males began to chase him off and he moved back into the wild.
Long-necked antelope The gerenuk, which means “giraffe-necked” in Somalian, is mainly found in Somalia, Kenya and southern Djibouti.
An Antelope That Survives Without Water
Aptly named for its long neck, this antelope can grow to around 150 centimeters tall. Gerenuks are able to reach great heights by standing up straight on their already long legs, allowing them to reach tasty vegetation six to eight feet off the ground.
The Trust is optimistic that Nuk will enjoy a bright future and have a family of his own. “It seems he’s having a ball of a time and perhaps established his own territory,” said Amie Alden, communications and media manager of the Trust, as reported by The Dodo. “Though it’s bittersweet not to see him, we are proud that he’s clearly found his place in the wild. A complete success story.”
Gerenuks live in small groups, consisting mainly of related females and their young, while males tend to live alone, or in small bachelor groups.
Animals in their natural habitat can be incredibly ingenious and adaptive, but they are helpless against mankind. If we can take a step back, and curb our selfish impulses, there is much we can gain from observing nature. From animals like the gerenuk we can learn resilience and endurance, qualities likely to be highly useful in this changing world.
Its large eyes and ears give the gerenuk an endearing appearance, as it makes use of its eyelashes and sensory hairs on its snout to safely graze through thorny bushes while it eats.
Nirav Shah via Pexels CC 0
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Seen here at the Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, gerenuks are often found on their hind legs, as that is the best way to reach the life-giving vegetation in their arid habitat.
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LIFESTYLE
AUG 6 - AUG 12, 2021 |
A9
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Hanging Out in Warsaw Old Town:
Bittersweet Memories Warsaw Old Town meticulously rebuilt after the war You see, I can almost feel the energy of the people who maybe once gathered around to fetch water for their families or businesses. The faint breeze carries the excited laughter of children as they splash. I don’t know if this is true. The sad truth is that I know nothing, and this is all likely to be false. I could Google it, but I still haven’t bothered, and I’ve been back in this square for nine days. Warsaw is a cheap city when it comes to food and drink, but especially when it comes to vodka. A celebration was our reason for being there, a brilliant excuse for the boys to go out on the town. We laughed, we danced, we spent way too much zloty on way too many drinks. Fast forward to 89.6⁰F (32⁰C) in Old Town, and I’m staring at the water pump because I feel like I’m about to melt. I’m drinking a huge beer — which only cost me about £2 (US$2.77) in English money — and somebody is trying to force-feed me pierogi. I taste it, and it’s nice, but my stomach feels as though it is protesting. I can’t be trusted to consume good things, and my stomach knows it. This is the English experience abroad. Hangovers and shame. The worst part is that I consider myself to be cultured in comparison to my fellow country-folk. I like to read, I enjoy writing poetry, and I don’t get off my face every weekend. CHUCK ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A GETAWAY FOR A WEDDING, MIX IN SOME CHEAP ALCOHOL, SHAKE IT UP WITH THE TOXIC BUT LOVEABLE ATMOSPHERE OF LAD CULTURE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I’M THE COCK OF THE WALK, SINGING: THREE LIONS IN FRONT OF THE PALACE OF SCIENCE AND CULTURE. By Danny Walsh
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s I sat beneath a gazebo in Warsaw Old Town, my attention was taken by the water pump in the square. This beautifully recreated little square is home to a few restaurants, as well as the odd street vendor, one of whom sold me a magnet. This whole place feels like history, including the fountain that both birds and homeless people wash in. The water pump is what holds my gaze, though.
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Nonetheless, there I was in the middle of Warsaw Old Town, telling people in my party how the whole thing had been rebuilt accurately after the Second World War. They’re nodding away, marvelling at how much I know. I’m hoping I can slip away unnoticed to be sick some time soon. The magnet I bought for our broken fridge back in London has become a small talking point, too. This is an opportunity to drop in the fact that I’ve travelled abroad for comedy gigs, and always buy magnets to bring home. This chat soon dries up, and wedding talk begins again. I’m back staring at the water pump, and a kid is climbing on it. This seems to solidify my daydream earlier, and suddenly it is now classed as history. Kids played here, and then the Nazis destroyed it, but it’s okay because now it is rebuilt and the homeless can have a quick wash in the fountain. God, I love culture, and I’ll definitely come back to Warsaw (without the lads).
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LIFESTYLE
A10 | AUG 6 - AUG 12 , 2021
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These
ALOE VERA
Face Masks Can Target Just About Any Skin Concern
Aloe vera for skincare Skin concerns can range from slight pigmentation and tanning to serious cases of acne and blemish scars that often mess with a person’s confidence levels. While makeup can be a solution, it is only a temporary one, and people who prefer a more natural and make-up-free look find it hard. But skin concerns are not the only reason to apply an aloe face mask. You may already have flawless skin, but maintaining this requires some proper TLC, and aloe vera gel also helps fight skin fatigue and protect your skin from pollution damage.
By Raven Montmorency
W
ith modernization taking over almost all parts of modern human life, going back to nature is the only safe way to ensure that your skin and body are well-cared for. Rush hours, meetings, an irregular diet, and the lack of exercise routines wreak havoc in the lives of working adults, but teenagers are also not spared from skin concerns from exposure to pollution and stress. This is where aloe vera face masks come in. For ages, Ayurveda, which is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, has held many miraculous recipes for all sorts of skin concerns and one of the core ingredients is undoubtedly aloe vera.
Freepik
Detox mask
Freepik
Excess oil removal mask
Activated charcoal is making headlines for its great detoxifying properties. Many brands are adding this as a core ingredient to counter skin problems. You can make your paste using 1 capsule of activated charcoal along with 2 teaspoons of aloe gel. Make a paste and apply it to your face. Wash off after 10 minutes with cold water.
Hydrating mask If your skin feels dry and itchy, you need to hydrate your skin. While drinking loads of water effectively works from within, applying a hydrating aloe face mask will make you look ready to conquer the world within minutes. All you need is 2 teaspoons of aloe gel, 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder, and 1 teaspoon of rose water. Mix all these and apply them to your face for 10 minutes. The rose water is a natural toner and sandalwood helps lighten the skin. Aloe makes your face look dewy and well-hydrated.
Aloe vera can be grown in your house and caring for the plant is easy. This succulent perennial plant tends to spread out fast so you can have quite a few pots of plants that you can also gift to your friends. Getting the aloe gel might be a sticky (pun intended!) business, but it’s fun and also great for your hands and nails. You simply need to cut a leaf 2 inches above the base of the leaf at an angle. Place the leaf on a clean surface and from the thicker cut part, insert the knife toward the top section of the leaf and slowly peel the upper section. Once the gel part is exposed, simply scoop it into a blender, add some water, blend it, place it in a bottle, and refrigerate it to use as needed.
Oily skin is great to help counter age lines and wrinkles, but an oily T-zone not only shines, it also makes you feel sticky. Multani mitti is known to be one of the best oil removal agents. All you need to do is mix 1 tablespoon of Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) along with 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel to get a thick paste. Apply and wash off after 20 minutes to see an instant glow and oil-free face.
Cleansing mask
Cleansing is a routine that should be done at least thrice a week to exfoliate and give your face a firmer look. For this, you will need about 2 drops of lavender oil, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, half a teaspoon of lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons of aloe gel. Mix all these ingredients to form a smooth paste and apply it to your face and neck for 15 minutes. The baking powder along with lemon acts as a great exfoliator to clean your pores, while the lavender offers soothing effects along with aloe vera.
Cooling mask If you have spent most of your day outside, cooling is something that your body and your face need the most. While you running a hot water with scented bath salts to relax, make this cooling aloe face mask to help your skin cool down and freshen up. You will need a couple of drops of rosewater as the toner, about 3 crushed mint leaves, about 2 tablespoons of raw honey, and 1 teaspoon of aloe gel. Simply mix all of these to form a thick paste and apply it for 20 minutes. The mint makes your face feel cool, while the honey helps remove the day’s build-up of grease from your skin. Pixabay
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CULTURE
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AUG 6 - AUG 12, 2021 |
Don’t…
4. Underestimate the
importance of a business card
1. Eat and drink while walking Japanese like to keep their streets very clean. If you have ever been to Japan, you will notice that their streets are kept very tidy. You also don’t want to ruin someone’s day by having them step on your spilled coffee.
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3. Tip a worker or staff
In Japan, good customer service is seen as something that Stick your is a prerequisite for good chopsticks upright business. Tipping someone is not forbidden, but you into your rice create an awkward situaIn Japan, sticking chopsticks uption, where it seems like right into rice is part of a ritual you are assessing somedone at funerals while offering one’s performance. rice to the spirit of the deceased. And they could potentially lose face.
Business cards and the gesture of handing it to someone have a different value than we might be accustomed to in the West. Treat them respectfully, study them meticulously, as they are seen as an extension of the person himself/herself. You really don’t want to thoughtlessly stuff someone’s physical extension in your back pocket.
2.
5. Use your phone
on public transport In Japan, people are very mindful of one another. Given Japan’s population density they are especially mindful of others in public.
By Hermann Rohr
10 Japan
THINGS NOT TO DO
in
The followin g list of 10 things not t o do in Japa n will help yo u fresh up o n your etique tte, and fit in when you v isit Japan.
After all, when you visit a foreign country, I have found socializing with the native people to be one of the richest experiences. Traveling can open many doors and possibilities. Fitting in by respecting the native culture’s etiquette can be a great benefit.
Don’t…
9.
6. Blow your nose
in public
Blowing one’s nose in public is considered rude in Japan. So if you ever happen to have a runny nose and you’re on the train or elsewhere, either keep on sniffing or look for a private spot to discretely relief yourself from that stuffy nose.
7. Forget to take off
your shoes
When visiting someone’s home or entering a public building, like a school or going to a hot spring, it’s customary to take off your shoes and put on a pair of slippers. This is one gesture in Japan you should try and pay attention too as it is taken very seriously. TEL : 212-730-6962
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Traveling can be an amazing eye-opener — getting to experience a different culture, learning a foreign language, or just being able to get the chance of observing the human condition from a different perspective. Some countries lean more toward etiquette than others. Japan is one of those countries. While you won’t run into legal issues if you don’t follow etiquette in Japan, you might come across as somewhat edgy and awkward at times.
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8.
Get physical We Westerners usually reach out and shake someone’s hand when we meet them or say goodbye. But in Japan, physical contact isn’t really popular as a means of greeting or saying goodbye. You will bow or nod a lot throughout the day and occasionally shake hands with a good friend or a good business client. Public displays of affection are usually met with looks of awkwardness.
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Litter, even though it’s hard to find a garbage bin Despite the scarcity of garbage bins in public places, avoid littering. Still, you will find that Japanese streets are surprisingly clean. If you don’t find a place to dispose of your garbage, just consider taking it home with you and disposing of it there.
10. Be overly opinionated
If you’re the type of person who likes to be very opinionated during conversations, then you might create another one of those awkward situations for yourself in Japan. Keeping harmony and avoiding conflict is a mentality deeply rooted in Japanese culture. It’s much easier to do when people are not hurdling opinions at other people.
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HEALTH
A12 | AUG 6 - AUG 12 , 2021
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Laughter Is the Best Medicine
By Raven Montmorency
I
t is commonplace for humans to resort to laughter to beat the blues of depression or fight back during tough phases in life. At such times, laughter is the best medicine. During the pandemic that brought the planet to a grinding halt, plenty of people indulged in watching funny TV shows or cartoons to boost their mood and thwart feelings of negativity and depression. In fact, some of the popular brands resorted to broadcasting humorous advertisements to grab the attention of consumers in recent times. Laughter is a wonderful and versatile method that can be used to stave off thoughts and feelings that may lead to negativity. It is capable of easing tension. It acts as a glue to hold relationships intact. In modern times, people cope with stress, exhaustion, doubt, and depression a lot. Through humor and laughter, it is possible to give a much-needed boost to your emotional health.
Why laughter is the best medicine
A number of study findings have suggested that resorting to laughter can bring a number of mental and physical health benefits. Laughing can impact the nerves and muscles in the human body in a positive manner. According to the
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view of Ronald A. Berk, associated with Johns Hopkins University, laughter can impact the central nervous system and it also affects muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory nerves. A lot of adults and teens
suffer from blood pressurerelated issues. This can pave the way to serious health issues later. While blood pressure relating medications are there, it is advisable to indulge in laughter. A study that was published
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in Medical Hypotheses hints that people indulging in laughter regularly have a more stabilized blood pressure than those who do not. This is natural, given the fact laughter stimulates blood circulation.
A Stanford University professor, Dr. William Fry, opines that laughter can condition cardiac, abdominal, and facial muscles well. This is good for those people who do not work out much. It helps the muscles relax, too. In fact, laughing for 10 minutes or more helps burn around 40 calories! People coping with chronic and recurring pains and aches can try laughter as a complementary method to alleviate the severity of the pain. This can be good for people coping with pain caused by conditions and ailments like arthritis. Psychologist Rosemary Cogan conducted a pressure cuff test on candidates and saw the beneficial impact of watching humorous shows. The study was later published in the coveted Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Laughter also helps reduce the secretion of stress hormones. Studies have hinted laughter helps reduce the secretion of 4 stress-inducing neuroendocrine hormones in the human body. Laughter also triggers endorphins in the body. These are known as “feel-good hormones.” These chemicals make you feel good. Clinical studies carried out at the Loma Linda University by Dr. Lee Berk show that laughter strengthens the level of immunity. This is possible because laughter boosts the number of infection-fighting antibodies. In other words, laughter sends a signal to the immune system to augment the level of protection. A number of studies have shown that laughter can stimulate both parts of the human brain. This is beneficial for augmenting learning and retaining memory. It also eases psychological stress and keeps the brain alert. In an era when people are careful about keeping their lungs and respiratory systems in good shape, laughter can be useful. Laughing serves like a mild form of aerobic workout. Frequent belly laughter ensures your lungs are emptied, prompting the body to inhale fresh air. This produces an effect akin to deep breathing. This, in turn, circulates more oxygen-enriched blood throughout the entire body. A study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that laughter and humor may reduce the risk of getting a cardiac attack. It showed people without heart disease tend to laugh 40 percent more than those with such ailments.
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